Needing Help Too, Dade's Nicaraguans Aid Homeland

Dade County's Nicaraguan residents, still reeling from the destruction that Hurricane Andrew brought to their lives, have banded to help their homeland, which was battered by a tidal wave on Tuesday.

In businesses, homes and churches, canned good, clothes and money are being collected to send to towns along Nicaragua's Pacific Coast where officials estimate that at least 116 have died and 16,000 are homeless.

''We've survived earthquakes and war, and we'll find a way to survive this,'' said Vilma Urbina, 55, who volunteered to help collect donations in Sweetwater.

''It hurts to see that so many children died,'' she said tearfully.

Many of those helping could use help themselves.

Andrew blew half of the roof off of Comi Rojas' mobile home, ruining much of her furniture and floor. Yet on Friday, she was packing a bag of clothes to donate for the relief effort.

''We'll give what we can give to the people over there,'' said Rojas, who lives in the Blue Lake Mobile Home Ranch. ''The tragedy makes me feel so desperate, so terrible.''